Evolutionary Forces

Natural selection is the process of animal populations changing over time to adapt to their environment.

Individuals with traits that are well-suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes to the next generation.

Natural selection will act on individuals with less desirable traits by reducing their chances of reproducing and eventually eliminating their traits from the population.

<p>A population of mice living on a beach where mice with white or beige fur color blend in with the sand, making them less vulnerable to predators, while dark brown mice stand out and are more vulnerable to predation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Charles Darwin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Charles Darwin developed the idea of natural selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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<p>Artificial selection is the human practice of selectively breeding animals for certain traits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Darwin argued that natural selection occurs naturally, similar to the human practice of artificial selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Darwin suspected that traits were passed down from parent to offspring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A mutation is a change in the structure of a gene that can be passed on to offspring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two types of mutations are spontaneous and environmental.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Spontaneous mutations occur randomly due to an error during cell replication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Environmental mutations are caused by exposure to an external harmful substance, such as radiation or chemicals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The environment determines which traits will help an animal to be successful.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some environmental factors influencing natural selection include climate, predators, habitat type, and food sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Darwin observed that finches on the Galapagos Islands evolved different beak types depending on their primary source of food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The long neck of giraffes is evidence of natural selection and evolution, as giraffes with longer necks had a competitive advantage in reaching food sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The environment determines whether a mutation is beneficial, harmful, or neutral.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Harmful mutations will eventually be eliminated from the population through natural selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers